September 7 Devotion - Your DNA in God - Part 5 - I am a saint (set apart for God)

 

 

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus.To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord

إِلَى الْقِدِّيسِينَ الأُمَنَاءِ فِي الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ، [الْمُقِيمِينَ فِي أَفَسُسَ].

لَى الَّذِينَ تَقَدَّسُوا فِي الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ، الْمَدْعُوِّينَ، الْقِدِّيسِينَ؛ وَإِلَى جَمِيعِ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ بِاسْمِ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ فِي كُلِّ مَكَانٍ رَبّاً لَهُمْ وَلَنَا.

 Ephesians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:2.

The word “saint” comes from the Greek word hagios, which means “consecrated to God, holy, sacred, pious.” The idea of the word “saints” is a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom. Therefore, scripturally speaking, the “saints” are the body of Christ, Christians, the church. All Christian believers are considered saints in The bible and at the same time are called to be saints. Christians are saints by virtue of their connection with Jesus Christ. Christians are called to be saints, to increasingly allow their daily life to more closely match their position in Christ. This is the biblical description and calling of the saints. In the Bible, everyone who has received Jesus Christ by faith as Lord and Saviour is called a saint. Today the word saint means something different in the vocabulary of the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You Lord that my DNA reveals that Jesus bought me with His precious blood and through Jesus’ redemptive work at The Cross I am sanctified and I am a saint. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify me completely, and may my whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Lord, I pray that out of Your  glorious riches that You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can increasingly allow my daily life to be more closely matched to my position in Christ. Abba Father, thank You for Your deep and everlasting love of me, Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. Father God, I praise You, revere You, bless You, worship You, I stand in awe of You, I lift You up on high, and glorify Your Holy Name. In the name of Jesus I pray. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of all ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 

 

 

 

September 4 Devotion - Your DNA in God - Part 4 - I am bought with a price

 

 

 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

لانكم قد اشتريتم بثمن.فمجّدوا الله في اجسادكم وفي ارواحكم التي هي لله عالمين انكم افتديتم لا باشياء تفنى بفضة او ذهب من سيرتكم الباطلة التي تقلدتموها من الآباء

19 بل بدم كريم كما من حمل بلا عيب ولا دنس دم المسيح

.

1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Peter 1:18-19

 

Apart from the blood of Christ, you and I could not have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Jesus’ sacrificial death made it possible for sinful man to approach Holy God. Because of His blood, believers are redeemed, forgiven, justified, and sanctified.

Our obligation toward our redeemer is in proportion to the price which is paid for our redemption. A price far more valuable than any amount of silver or gold had been paid for our redemption and we are under proportionate obligation to devote ourselves to His service. Believers are redeemed by the life of the Son of God offered in their behalf; and between the value of the life of The Son of God and silver and gold there is no comparison.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You Lord that my DNA reveals that Jesus bought me with His precious blood and through Jesus’ redemptive work at The Cross I am granted access to You God, my Heavenly Father and I will spend eternity with You. Thank You Lord that I was not purchased with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. Thank You Lord that You redeemed me and granted me forgiveness of my sins, You justified me and even sanctified me according to the riches of Your grace. Lord, I pray that out of Your  glorious riches that You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Friend and behave in a such a way that pleases Your spirit within me. Father God, I praise You, revere You, bless You, worship You, I stand in awe of You, I lift You up on high, and glorify Your Holy Name. In the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, in the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of all ages. Amen.

 

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

September 3 Devotion - Your DNA in God - Part 3 - I am united with the Lord

 

 

 

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

 واما من التصق بالرب فهو روح واحد.

1 Corinthians 6:17

 When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour we have the same spirit, in measure, which Christ our sole Mediator with God has without measure. We have the Spirit of God, as a spirit of faith and holiness and of adoption. We are also sealed for eternity.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You Lord that my DNA reveals that I; as a follower of Your Son Jesus; am joined with Jesus and enjoy the same spirit. I pray that out of Your  glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Friend and behave in a such a way that pleases Your spirit within me. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Jesus be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

September 2 Devotion - Your DNA in God - Part 2 - I am Christ's friend

 

 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

 John 15:15

  لا اعود اسميكم عبيدا لان العبد لا يعلم ما يعمل سيده .لكني قد سميتكم احباء لاني أعلمتكم بكل ما سمعته من ابي .

 

A slave does not know the plans of his/her master or owner. He receives the commands of his master without knowing the reasons why they are ordered. Friendship on the other hand allows one to be made acquainted with the plans, wishes, and wants of the friend. This instance of friendship Jesus had shared with His disciples the reasons why he was about to leave them, and with His secret wishes in regard to them. As He had given them this proof of friendship, it was proper that He should not withhold from them the title of friends.

The reason why Jesus calls us friends is that He treats us as friends. He has opened to us His mind; made known to us His plans; acquainted us with the design of His coming, His death, His resurrection, ascension, and second coming; and, having thus given us the clearest proof of friendship, it is therefore proper that He gives us this name. We should always look at Jesus as our friend, even though He is also our Lord and Master.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You Lord that my DNA reveals that I am a child of God and I was purchased with the precious blood of Christ. Jesus You laid Your life for me and said: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13 Thank You Jesus  for loving me and treating me like Your friend. Abba Father thank You that You redeemed me and granted me forgiveness of my sins, according to the riches of Your grace. Thank You Father God for Your abundant blessings and love. I pray that out of Your  glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Friend. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory, the majesty, the power and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

September 1 Devotion - Your DNA in God - Part 1- I am God's Child

 

 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

أَمَّا الَّذِينَ قَبِلُوهُ، أَيِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاسْمِهِ، فَقَدْ مَنَحَهُمُ الْحَقَّ فِي أَنْ يَصِيرُوا أَوْلادَ اللهِ،

John 1:12

 Be freed from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

  وَهُوَ أنْ يَتَحَرَّرَ هَذا العالَمُ المَخلُوقُ أيضاً مِنْ عُبُودِيَّتِهِ لِلفَسادِ، وَيَتَمَتَّعَ بِالحُرِّيَّةِ المَجِيدَةِ الَّتيْ لِأبناءِ اللهِ.

Romans 8:21

Does this apply to everyone? I believe it applies only to those who have surrendered their lives to Christ and accepted the fact that He bore their sins in His own body at The Cross, and have declared Him as their Lord and Saviour. At that moment they are born again through the spirit and become children of God.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You that my DNA reveals that I am a child of God and I was purchased with the precious blood of Christ. Thank You Lord that You redeemed me and granted me forgiveness of my sins, according to the riches of Your grace. LORD, I pray that out of Your  glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Jesus may continue to dwell in my heart through faith. Thank You Father God for Your abundant blessings and love. I praise You and glorify You Lord. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Jesus be the glory, the majesty, the power and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

August 31 Devotion - Resolving Conflict

 

  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

 

لِيُرْفَعْ مِنْ بَيْنِكُمْ كُلُّ مَرَارَةٍ وَسَخَطٍ وَغَضَبٍ وَصِيَاحٍ وَتَجْدِيفٍ مَعَ كُلِّ خُبْثٍ. 32وَكُونُوا لُطَفَاءَ بَعْضُكُمْ نَحْوَ بَعْضٍ، شَفُوقِينَ مُتَسَامِحِينَ كَمَا سَامَحَكُمُ اللهُ أَيْضًا فِي الْمَسِيحِ.

Ephesians 4:31-32

 As we see from Jesus’ actions and words in Matthew 21:12-13 (see text at the end of the devotion) anger is not intrinsically wrong. Anger in response to sin and its ill effects is a form of righteous anger, but when it crosses over the boundary into bitterness or a spirit of vengeance, it is not honouring to God.

 Our health and well-being are important reasons for quick resolution of an angry conflict; bitterness must definitely be avoided.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, please do not let anger control me. Teach me to resolve conflict and to replace it with a win-win alternative and to be tenderhearted toward the person I am having conflict with but without accepting a martyr lose-win alternative for myself. Please work on their heart also. Lord, help me to get rid of any desire to get revenge, and to be able to quickly forgive just as You God have forgiven me in Christ. Lord help me to realize that my total dependence on You to help me forgive is not an indication of weakness on my part, but a sign of strength and confidence in You and Your promises. Father I thank You for Your deep, everlasting, and inseparable love for me and for Your abundant blessings in my life. In the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus The Christ, the only begotten Son of God, I pray. To You Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever, Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice]. ¹³ Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture], ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”

 ¹²وَدَخَلَ يَسُوعُ إِلَى هَيْكَلِ اللهِ وَأَخْرَجَ جَمِيعَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَبِيعُونَ وَيَشْتَرُونَ فِي الْهَيْكَلِ، وَقَلَبَ مَوَائِدَ الصَّيَارِفَةِ وَكَرَاسِيَّ بَاعَةِ الْحَمَامِ ¹³وَقَالَ لَهُمْ:«مَكْتُوبٌ: بَيْتِي بَيْتَ الصَّلاَةِ يُدْعَى. وَأَنْتُمْ جَعَلْتُمُوهُ مَغَارَةَ لُصُوصٍ!»